Is this the most daring selfie ever?

We've discussed whether Jesus would take a selfie before, but Brazil's famous Christ the Redeemer statue didn't have a choice in the matter after photographer Lee Thompson climbed to its top and took a series of stomach-lurching snaps.

Thompson was in Rio ahead of this summer's football World Cup when he and colleague Oliver Harvey decided to take on the half-hour climb to the head of the imposing statue.

"A severe lightning storm had damaged the statue in January and I knew that workers were busy with repairs, so decided to take a stab in the dark and...managed to convince the Brazil tourist board to allow us to climb to the top and take some seriously vertigo-inducing photographs," he writes on his blog.

"Even though I had been to Rio many times and admired the iconic statue from afar, I had never had the time to visit the Christ the Redeemer Statue in person, let alone imagine snapping a selfie of me popping out of his head just two hours later!"

Measuring 125 feet tall in total, the statue offers stunning views across Rio and the resulting photos are incredible; so much so that Thompson says he had a "religious experience".

Marcelo Dias

"I was in total and utter awe as my eyes met with a vast panorama that quite literally took my breath away...I've never been afraid of heights or tight spaces, but experiencing acrophobia, claustrophobia and profound awe at the same time was something truly remarkable," he shares.

"To some, taking pictures of yourself is considered vain, but this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity taught me that the selfie is a powerful medium through which we can share our perspectives, inspirations and personal stories with the world at large.

"It's not about funny mugshots with scenic backdrops or daredevil stunts. It's a way to mark the moment and say, 'I was here'."

To see more of Thompson's photos, click here, or watch their dizzing climb below:

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